Reservoir for ultrasonically operated nebulizer

ABSTRACT

A container is disclosed which is a reservoir for water from which water is to be and can be atomized by ultrasonic means as in an ultrasonic nebulizer. The container is constructed of plastic. It is blow molded; prior to closing of the container, the water is introduced and the container is closed. A first port is provided for introduction of a gas, such as oxygen under pressure. A second port is provided for removal of atomized or mist of water in an oxygen medium for use by a patient requiring treatment. The plastic container has a relatively thin bottom which may be suitably coupled to an ultrasonic energy producing means. Additionally, means is provided for breaking open the two ports to provide access to the inside of the container. The container is also provided, in one embodiment with a continuous feeder so that additional water may be added, whereby the container is useful as a reservoir. The additional water is provided by means of a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;chicken feeder&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; which is insertable through a breachable port located off-center on the top of the container.

United States Patent [191 Cornett, III et a1.

[11] 3,806,100 [451 Apr. .23, 1974 1 RESERVOIR FOR ULTRASONICALLYOPERATED NEBULIZER [75] Inventors; Walter Goza Cornett, III; Edward VanAmerongen, both of Wilmette, 111-.

[73] Assignee: Respiratory Care, Inc., Arlington Heights, 11].

[22] Filed: Sept. 6, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 286,750

[52] US. Cl 261/1, 128/186, 128/194,

. 261/119, 26l/DIG. 48 [51] Int. Cl B0lf 3/04 [58] Field of Search128/188, 186, 194, 232,

128/272; 261/119, 1, DIG. 48; 239/308, 327; 259/DIG. 43, DIG. 44

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,690,317. 9/1972 Millman128/194 3,744,771 7/1973 Deaton 261/78 A Primary ExaminerAndrew R..luhasz Assistant Examiner-W. R. Briggs Attorney, Agent, or Firm-:EricP. Schellin; Martin P. Hoffman I [57] I ABSTRACT A container isdisclosed which is a reservoir for water from which water is to be andcan be atomized by ultrasonic means as in an ultrasonic nebulizer. Thecontainer is constructed of plastic. it is blow molded; prior to closingof the container, the water is introduced and the container is closed. Afirst port is provided for introduction of a gas, such as oxygen underpressure. A second port is provided for removal of atomized or mist ofwater in an oxygen medium for use 'by a patient requiring treatment.

The plastic container has a relatively thin bottom which may be suitablycoupled to an ultrasonic energy producing means. Additionally, means isprovided for breaking open the two ports to provide access to the insideof the container.

The container is also'provided, in one embodiment with a continuousfeeder so that additional water may be added, whereby the container isuseful as a reservoir. The additional water is provided by means of achicken feeder which is insertable througha breachable port locatedoff-center on the top of the container.

6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures in amode of operation.

RESERVOIR FOR ULTRASONICALLY OPERATED NEBULIZER FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present disclosure relates to inhalation therapy. Particularly, itrelates to a receptacle or container for ultrasonically operatednebulizers. Specifically, it concerns a container which is moldedintegral with a supply of water which may be atomized therefrom bycouplingthe container to a source of ultrasonic energy.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION form of discernible droplets. The particlesor mist of water is dispersed in the ambient air or oxygen, if desired.The mixture is then provided to a patient for breathing purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The device of the present. invention comprisesa sealed plastic container which is blow molded with a quantity of waterincluded prior to completing the formation and sealing of the container.The bottom of the container is sufficiently thin whereby it istransparent to ultrasonic vibrations so that the ultrasonic energy mayact on the water in the container. Sufficient head room above the wateris provided. An ingress port and an egress port is provided so that airor oxygen may be introduced by means of one and may be removed by theother. While the gas is in the container it is charged with the mistformed of tiny particles of water expelled from. the surface of thewater when the water is subjected to ultrasonic vibrations. In anotherembodiment, the container functions as a reservoir which is continuouslyfilled as needed from a source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the ensuing detailed description,reference is made to accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspectivev view of the device of the present inventionexploded from an optional stand.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the device andthe standtherefor.

FIG. 4' is aperspective view of the device positioned in means for.producing ultrasonic energy.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fragmentary portionofone of the ports and 90 elbow exploded therefrom.

FIG. 6 is across-section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5. r

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the presentinvention wherein a breachable port is provided. I I

FIG. 8 is across-section taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the other embodiment FIG. 10 is apartial vertical cross-sectional view of the mode of operation of theother embodiment, part of the cross-section being taken along line 10-10of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 ofFIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS that it passesthrough somewhat tangentially extending first port means 15 and somewhattangentially extending second port means 16. Both port means will beseen to include elongated tubular means.

In blow molding the same quantity of plasticmaterial is provided to bothsides of the mold. As one side of the mold will have a considerablylarger cavity the plastic when blown to fill the cavity will'have to bedistributed over a much wider area, as a result it will be much thinner.This can be readily seen from the cross-section of FIG. 3. In theinstant matter it will be observed that the bottom is the thinnestportion. When coupled to a source of ultrasonic energy, this thinquality with re spect to the bottom is an advantage as less ultrasonicenergy is absorbedthan would be the case otherwise.

smaller diameter and 'isalso a degree thinner in wall structure. SuchFigures as FIGS. 1, 4 and 7 reveal the use of axially disposedlongitudinal ribs 21 to provide a modicum of additional strengthcharacteristics not otherwise available. The third section 22 isdirectly below the second section. Being the furthest from the mold partlineit will be seen to comprise the thinnest section terminating in thebottom 23 which due to its thinness is highly flexible. The thirdsection has a number of convoluted portions 24 to increase the rigidityto some extent of the rather thinthird section.

The water 13 level in the body 11 is preferably at or near the junctionof the second and third sections. More water than this results in pooratomization of the water as the body of water absorbs and dissipates toomuch of the ultrasonic energy Without easily converting the water tofine particle form. The chamber. 12 is thus provided with considerablehead room for adequate gas distribution.

The first and second port means terminate in hollow caps 25 which have,of course, been blow molded integral with the container 10. In order toprovide access 'to the interior of the container, that is, to thechamber 12, each of the caps 25 may be broken off along relatively weakline 26, as seen from the cross-section of FIG. 3. Breaking off the leftcap 25 on port means 15, as seen in FIG. 4 will display a bevelledtubular opening 27 designed to have mated thereon one end of a 90 elbow28. The elbow 28, as seen from FIGS. and 6, possesses internally a smallprotuberance 29 which is designed to mate with notch 30 on the uppermostside of the bevelled portion 31 of the port means 15. The detentconfiguration thereby provided insures that the elbow 28 will alwaysmaintain an upwardly facing orientation, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 9,for instance. As port means will carry away the nebulized mist of gasand water, the orientation of the elbow will provide a tortuous path sothat any liquid water in droplet form will be caught by the innersurfaces of the elbow and flowed back to the body 11 by gravity throughthe port means 15. The upwardly facing opening 32 is secured to a highlyflexible tube (not shown) which distributes the nebulized water and gasto the patient.

The other port means 16 also has its cap removed.

-An air or oxygen supply conduit 33 is attached thereto as seen fromFIG. 9 and 10.

. The container of the present invention is essentially designed to beutilized with a number of conventional commercially available ultrasonicdevices. Usually the ultrasonic device has a piezoelectric crystal asthe transducer to provide the desired ultrasonic vibrations. Thetransducer is usually positioned at the bottom of a cup to which iseither added directly the liquid to be atomized or the liquid is used asa coupler between the transducer and the bottom and part of the sides ofa container in which is the liquid, such as water which is to receivethe full benefit of the ultrasonic vibrations. The coupling liquidshould be relatively sealed between the container and the cup so that itis not atomized but merely acts as a carrying medium for the ultrasonicvibrations. Additionally, to accomplish efficient operation, no bubblesshould be permitted to become lodged in the coupling medium at theinterface of the medium and the bottom of the container. It will benoted that the bottom 23 is convex so that any bubbles will float awayfrom the bottom.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, it can be seen that the container 10 is designed, tofit a support means 35. The support means has an upstanding converging.tubular Wall 36 with an internal diameter slightly larger than thatfound at the junction of the second section and. third section 22. Thecontainer 10 is thereby snugly fitted into the support means. The otherend of the tubular wall 36 terminates in a squared off base portion 37and an upturned outward folded portion 38. In use the container isproperly set up and disposed in its support means, which has previouslybeen positioned in the ultrasonic device containing a quantity ofcoupling liquid which may be water, for instance.

FIG. 4 depicts the concept of employing an ultrasonic device having acup 39, shown in dotted lines,

which can accommodate the container 10. It will be noted that thecontainer is supported at approximately the juncture of the secondsection and the third section as disclosed in the foregoing.

Attention is now directed tothe embodiment por-' trayed by FIGS. 9 and10. As the container 10 does not contain a large quantity of water, dueto the rather tics.

now here discussed embodiment is designed to off-set some of thesedisadvantages.

In the foregoing the container 10 acts as selfcontained as it is alreadyfilled with a requisite quantity of water. The present embodiment looksto the use of the container with some modifications so that it can beused as a continuously operated device wherein the water nebulizedtherefrom is continuously replenished.

The top 18 of the container is modestly modified in that a breachableport is positioned along the surface of the top. It will be noted fromFIG. 7 that the port 50 is off-center. The port 50 comprises a raisedannular ring 51 with a self-sealing disc 52 positioned concentricallytherein. The port is designed to accept a sharpened double bored conduit53 as in FIG. 9 which is attached to a double channeled tube 54 forcontinuous delivery of water. In FIG. 8, the breaching tubular means 55,shown in dotted lines, may be a conventional hypodermic needle so thatmedicament may be added to the supply of water.

The tube 53 may be of cylindrical construction or it may be rectangular.The tube has a flange means 56 secured to near one end.'The flange means56 is designed to lie in abutmenton the top 18 so that the other end ofthe tube terminates above the bottom 23. The tube has two conduits 57and 58. Conduit 57 is slightly longer than conduit 58. The former is forthe delivery of water from a reservoir 59, the latter is for air todisplace the delivered water in thesaid reservoir. The res ervoir is asealed receptacle and is positioned to provide hydrostatic pressure.

In this embodiment the container 10 can be used for a prolonged periodas the water therein is continuously replenished. By controlling thepoint of termination with regard to tube 53, the water level in thecontainer may be setat a point where there is the most effecientoccurrance of nebulization.

The material for fabrication of the container is either polypropylene orpolyethylene. The fittings are of the same materials, but can beconstructed of other plas- As many changes in the described constructioncould be conceived, and as many changes could be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the claims, it is intended thatall matter contained in the specification shall be considered asillustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

l. A plastic container blow molded with a quantity of water includedtherein during the molding operation comprising a first section having acylindrical configuration, said first section having'ingress port meansand egress port means, both of said port means having break-away capmeans, said first section having a top,

. a second section having a cylindrical configuration insmallness ofultrasonic devices commercially available 1 and due to inherentinefficiencies of such devices, the

tegral with said first section, said second section being of a diametersmaller than said first section, a third section having a cylindricalconfiguration, integral with said second section, said third sectionhaving a diameter less than said second section, the third sectionhaving a convex bottom, the third section being con-. structed ofthinner plastic than the second section, the second section beingconstructed of thinner plastic than the first Section, at least theegress port means having a detent exposed when said break-away cap isremoved whereby a conduit having a mating detent nate in a bevel whenthe break-away caps are broken away.

4. The container of claim 3 wherein the detent is a notch in the bevel.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the said ingress port means and thesaid egress port means extend in the same direction.

6. The container of claim 1 wherein the top has a breachable membranemeans off-center with respect thereto, the membrane means includingmeans for selfsealing a breached opening.

1. A plastic container blow molded with a quantity of water includedtherein during the molding operation comprising a first section having acylindrical configuration, said first section having ingress port meansand egress port means, both of said port means having break-away capmeans, said first section having a top, a second section having acylindrical configuration integral with said first section, said secondsection being of a diameter smaller than said first section, a thirdsection having a cylindrical configuration, integral with said secondsection, said third section having a diameter less than said secondsection, the third section having a convex bottom, the third sectionbeing constructed of thinner plastic than the second section, the secondsection being constructed of thinner plastic than the first section, atleast the egress port means having a detent exposed when said break-awaycap is removed whereby a conduit having a mating detent when attached tothe egress port means is prevented from rotating.
 2. The container ofclaim 1 wherein the egress port means and the ingress port means includetubes radiating tangentially outwardly from said first section.
 3. Thecontainer of claim 2 wherein the tubes terminate in a bevel when thebreak-away caps are broken away.
 4. The container of claim 3 wherein thedetent is a notch in the bevel.
 5. The container of claim 1 wherein thesaid ingress port means and the said egress port means extend in thesame direction.
 6. The container of claim 1 wherein the top has abreachable membrane means off-center with respect thereto, the membranemeans including means for self-sealing a breached opening.